Secret Service Briefs Press About Security Preparations For The 2024 Democratic National Convention

3 months ago

The Secret Service held a press briefing with Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson about security preparations for the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago, IL.

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Transcript

00:00Okay. Good morning, everyone. First off, sound okay? Okay. Very good. My name is Joe Bisk.

00:17I'm with the Secret Service's Office of Communications and Media Relations. You won't need to quote

00:24me, but if you need, my name is Joe, and the last name is B as in boy, I-E-S-K. We're

00:31all here today to provide information on the security plan for the 2024 Democratic National

00:36Convention. Our goal is to provide you with as much information as quickly as possible

00:42and get that to the citizens of Chicago and those who are visiting the city during the

00:46DNC. There's a lot of people here today from the media, so we'll have some time for questions

00:53and answers afterward. If we don't have time to get to everyone, we'll be around after

01:01to answer some of your questions, and you can also send them to dncmedia at cityofchicago.com,

01:07and many of you also have my email. After the press conference, we'll be sending out

01:12a release along with the maps, and so before we bring in today's speakers, I'm going to

01:19go over just some ground rules and then the agenda for who will be speaking today. So

01:24you'll hear remarks from, first from Deputy Special Agent in Charge Derek Meyer. It's

01:31pronounced Meyer. It's spelled M-A-Y-E-R. Derek is D-E-R-E-K, and he's the Deputy Special

01:38Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office for the Secret Service. Then you'll have Governor

01:43J.B. Pritzker, J-B-P-R-I-T-Z-K-E-R, followed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, Brandon, B-R-A-N-D-O-N,

01:54Johnson, J-O-H-N-S-O-N. I know you all know this, but Superintendent Larry Snelling will

02:00follow the mayor. That's L-A-R-R-Y-S-N-E-L-L-I-N-G, and then 2024 DNC Coordinator Jeff Burnside,

02:13who is leading this for the Secret Service, he will then come up, go through the maps,

02:19explain where the perimeters are, and what some of those ramifications will be for the

02:25surrounding area. So he'll give a comprehensive review. Followed by that, we'll have acting FBI

02:32Special Agent in Charge Lucas Rothar, R-O, Lucas, L-U-C-A-S, Rothar, R-O-T-H-A-A-R. And then

02:43lastly, it'll be Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications Executive Director

02:47Jose Torado, Jose, J-O-S-E, Torado, T-I-R-A-D-O. Following the remarks, like I said, we'll have a

02:55brief Q&A. We have a hard stop at 12 30, so given the number of all you here today, we're not going

03:03to have time to go into off-topic questions. If you do, we have a number of public affairs folks

03:08in the room today that we can answer your questions afterward. And then we ask that when you,

03:16when we'll call on you for questions, so if we call on you, you ask a question and a follow-up,

03:23and please state, lead with your name and outlet. And then, like I said, any questions that don't

03:28get answered today, please send them to the appropriate agency or office. So with that,

03:35we'll bring in the speakers. Oh, I'm sorry, one last thing I wanted to mention.

03:42This is the, this is the, this is a national special security event, for those who don't know.

03:47So that, this is designated by the Department of Homeland Security, and this will be the 79th

03:56NSSE since their inception. And the Chicago field office was in charge of both the Republican

04:03National Convention in Milwaukee last week, as well as the DNC. So now with that, we'll bring in

04:09the speakers. Thank you.

04:40Good morning. My name is Derek Meyer, and I am the deputy special agent in charge of the Secret

04:55Services Chicago field office. I must begin by saying the assassination attempt of former

05:01President Donald Trump on July 13th was a terrible day for our entire nation. The investigation into

05:08this incident is being handled in Washington, D.C. The Secret Service remains dedicated to

05:14transparency and is working diligently to seek answers. An incident like what took place in

05:21Butler, Pennsylvania must never happen again. I have been working in the Chicago field office

05:27for the past six years. This is my home, and I'm eager for the 2024 Democratic National Convention

05:34to come to this city. The Secret Service has been working diligently over the past year

05:39with our local, state, and federal partners to develop a security plan for the convention.

05:47We are here to unveil the security perimeter for the 2024 DNC, which will take place at the

05:52United Center, McCormick Place, and other venues throughout the city. The events run from August

05:5919th through August 22nd. The convention has been designated a national special security event,

06:06which brings with it a full complement of resources from the federal government. These

06:11NSSEs also rely heavily on partnership. Many of those on our team are here today,

06:17including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Police Superintendent

06:24Larry Snelling, U.S. Secret Service DNC Coordinator Jeffrey Burnside, FBI acting

06:31special agent in charge Lucas Rothar, and Jose Tirado, the Executive Director of the Chicago

06:38Office of Emergency Management and Communications. We also have representatives from other key agencies

06:44on hand to answer your questions. The perimeter maps you will soon see were carefully crafted

06:49with input from our public safety partners, community groups, local businesses, traffic,

06:55and transportation experts. The Secret Service has also been working closely with our counterparts

07:01in the Department of Homeland Security and at the White House since the incident took place

07:06on July 13th in Butler, Pennsylvania. We have reviewed the security plan for the DNC

07:11and remain confident. Our plan allows us to adjust for any possible scenario.

07:16Earlier this month, the Secret Service coordinated security for the Republican

07:20National Convention in Milwaukee and the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. These events were

07:25conducted in a secure environment and we expect similar results in Chicago. This is a city that

07:31regularly works together to host large-scale events such as the NASCAR race, Lollapalooza,

07:36and Taste of Chicago. The Chicago Police Department plays a pivotal role in the success of these

07:41events, and Superintendent Snelling has been a tremendous partner. The superintendent is among

07:4917 public safety entities, including the U.S. Secret Service, participating in the Executive

07:54Steering Committee. This committee oversaw the development of the DNC operational security plan,

08:00relying on subcommittee staff with experts on various topics, including national intelligence,

08:06consequence management, maritime security, airspace security, traffic control, and more.

08:14The DNC plan has subsequently been tested and reinforced through multiple interagency

08:20exercises over the past four months, including five tabletop exercises and numerous field

08:26training operations. These run-throughs allow our law enforcement partners to evaluate the

08:30security plans throughout various scenarios. We will host a final training exercise just days

08:35before the official arrival of the first delegates. These exercises, previous experiences

08:41with large-scale events, and extensive planning all contribute to a level of confidence ahead

08:46of the convention. Our preparation includes detailed procedures for planned and pop-up

08:51demonstrations. I want everyone to know that the Secret Service and our public safety partners

08:56respect everyone's- every American's First Amendment rights. The superintendent has assured

09:02that CPD is well equipped to manage protests and plans are in place to keep those gatherings safe.

09:08The shared goal is for everyone to express their views lawfully while ensuring a secure

09:12environment for delegates, convention attendees, and the general public. We are also intentional

09:18about creating a plan that minimizes disruptions to the community as much as possible. We know

09:24that security for an event of this size will have an impact. To that end, the Secret Service and our

09:29partners have conducted set- dozens of outreach events with businesses, residences, and community

09:34groups. The objective is to effectively communicate our plan and mitigate confusion to the greatest

09:40extent possible. This effort has reached more than 900 members of the public, representing more than

09:46500 organizations and businesses throughout the Chicago area. We will continue to reach out to

09:52the community in the days ahead, including sharing the perimeter maps through a community canvassing

09:57effort tomorrow around the United Center. The cooperation, dedication, and genuine desire to

10:03ensure a safe and successful convention has been remarkable. Everyone remains focused on implementing

10:09a seamless security plan. Again, I want to thank our partners for the work they have already done

10:15and the steadfast commitment to maintaining a secure environment for all involved once the NC

10:20kicks off. Our primary focus is safety and I know Chicago is ready to host a convention.

10:26I would now like to introduce Illinois Governor JP Pritzker.

10:36Thank you very much, Derek, and thank you all for joining us today. It really is my honor to be here

10:42alongside the people who are making this historic Democratic National Convention possible. I want to

10:48first thank Jeff Burnside and the entire United States Secret Service for their tireless work to

10:54keep Chicago and all of us attending the DNC safe. Your professionalism, truly, and your sacrifices

11:02make us proud. In less than a month, thousands will gather here in Chicago to make their voices

11:08heard by participating in the convention. The eyes of the world will be on our great city and safety

11:15and security have remained our top priorities. It is thanks to the tireless efforts and coordination

11:21of the agencies that are represented in this room from all levels of government that convention

11:27goers and residents alike can participate and spectate to the fullest extent without fear for

11:34their safety. I want to acknowledge some of the great local and state leaders and agencies who

11:40have sacrificed nights and weekends in pursuit of that effort. The staff and representatives from

11:46the mayor's office and the city of Chicago, the Chicago Fire Department led by Commissioner Annette

11:53Nance-Holt, Chicago Police Department led by Superintendent Larry Snelling, and the Chicago

12:00Office of Emergency Management and Communications led by Director Jose Tirado, Illinois Emergency

12:07Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security led by Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau, the Illinois

12:13National Guard led by Major General Rodney Boyd, the Illinois State Police led by Director Brendan

12:20Kelly, Illinois Department of Transportation led by Secretary Omar Osman, and dozens of other state

12:27agencies. We all should take great comfort in having such a sizable and hard-working and skilled

12:35force dedicated solely to our safety and security, mapping out truly every detail and logistic at

12:43convention sites across the city. And with these comprehensive public safety plans and security

12:49measures, we should sleep soundly knowing how much preparation has been done. I also want to stress

12:56our commitment to transparency and information sharing throughout this process. It will be

13:02absolutely vital for our collective safety and security, for the minimal disruption to

13:08residents' daily lives, and for the smooth flow of the convention that we keep the public informed

13:14and vigilant. I encourage all residents and convention-goers to pay close attention

13:21to public announcements and posted signage to ensure that they are prepared. What will take

13:28place next month is a beautiful display of American democracy in action. Here in Chicago,

13:35millions will watch. Tens of thousands visiting from around the globe and around the United States

13:43will witness a triumph of political expression and engagement, doing so without fear for their safety.

13:51That is a testament to our democratic culture. But more importantly, it is thanks to the hard

13:56work and sacrifice of the folks you see standing up here today. I also want to thank each and every

14:03one of you in the audience who are engaged in this endeavor for your service. We all owe you a

14:09sincere debt of gratitude. To those visiting us next month, enjoy our terrific global city of

14:15Chicago. And with that, I'm pleased to turn this podium over to our partner and friend, Chicago

14:22Mayor Brandon Johnson. Mayor, thank you.

14:25Well, good morning, everyone. Thank you, Governor Pritzker. Is it morning still? Is it? Okay.

14:36Thank you all for joining us today. The state of Illinois has been an incredible partner, Governor

14:41Pritzker, throughout this entire endeavor. Of course, we do appreciate the work of U.S. Secret

14:47Service, the FBI, the DNCC, as well as the DNC Host Committee, all of the city departments,

14:55sister agencies who remain hard at work preparing Chicago for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

15:04Thank you for your leadership and cooperation over the past year to ensure that we are ready

15:09to host the best national convention yet. And let me state this unequivocally.

15:17Chicago is ready. We were born ready. And I'm not just talking about the convention itself.

15:26So much has changed from our first announcement regarding the DNC to now.

15:33Now Chicago is not just hosting another convention.

15:36We are welcoming a new breath of life into our nation with the historic nomination of Vice

15:44President Kamala Harris. Though this is our city's 26th time hosting a national convention,

15:54this moment is like no other. Chicago has already cemented itself in history for electing trailblazers

16:02to the highest office in the land. And as we prepare for the first Black woman to win the

16:10Democratic nomination for president of these United States, there is no better place to host

16:16this national convention than right here in the city of Chicago. We are no stranger to hosting

16:24large-scale events. Chicago hosted NATO in 2012, NASCAR for the second year in a row,

16:30and hundreds of conventions each year. We have a proven track record as a host city.

16:39Our past experiences and expertise hosting events have given us great lessons in preparation for the

16:452024 DNC. In a few moments, our federal partners and public safety agency leaders will describe

16:52the safety plans in place to safeguard residents, visitors, delegates, protesters, and everyone else

16:58in between. Meanwhile, our city departments have been working hard to showcase this beautiful city.

17:07This is an all-hands-on-deck and it's a citywide effort.

17:11The Department of Streets and Sanitation continues to do its work trimming trees,

17:16cleaning up public spaces, sidewalks, beautifying our neighborhoods from the north side to the south

17:21side, ensuring that they are ready to be on the global stage. The Park District is keeping our

17:28green space clean and clear and the Department of Transportation has added accessibility

17:33improvements. It's repaired sidewalks and repaved streets. They are also painting light poles and

17:41planting flowers to further beautify our city. So in other words, the men and women who staff

17:46our departments are continuing to do the things that they do every single day serving the city

17:51of Chicago. And after we announced that Chicago was after it was announced that Chicago would be

17:58hosting the 2024 DNC, I was clear that in our preparation we must invest in legacy projects

18:06that will uplift our residents and serve our community long after the convention.

18:12A great example is the construction of the 80 million dollar CTA-Damon and Lake

18:18Green line station. This station fills a gap between existing stations on the green line to

18:24provide transit access to those living and working near Kinsey Street corridor.

18:30This will greatly benefit the west side neighborhoods and of course all of those

18:35who will be visiting the United Center. And through all of this work, our commitment is clear.

18:42We will secure a safe and vibrant Democratic National Convention and continue to serve the

18:48residents who rely on our city department's dedicated service each and every day. To those

18:56preparing to visit us, we look forward to you experiencing what I call the soul of Chicago.

19:04From our diverse cultural experiences to our world-class dining, breathtaking views of our lake

19:09and skyline, and amazing people that make up the 77 diverse communities. There is no way to

19:17experience all of Chicago in one trip, so go ahead and just put your money away so that you can come

19:22back and visit us in the fall and next summer. And with our preparation in place, I'm confident

19:28that the 2024 DNC will be a safe and successful convention. Most importantly, finally, this will

19:35be a peaceful and unified expression of our sacred democratic process. Whether you want to

19:42exercise your first amendment, visit the convention, or just simply continue to live and work in

19:49Chicago like you normally do, you will be protected and served throughout this convention.

19:55In just 23 days, Chicago will showcase our great spirit, the vibrant neighborhoods, the readiness

20:00to usher in our nation's bright future. And thanks to all of our partners from the city and beyond

20:07who are making this moment possible. I look forward to our continued collaboration in the final days

20:13and throughout this convention. And so let's make sure that we are geared up for the people across

20:20the globe who will get a chance to experience our democracy. So thank you all again, and with that

20:26I'm going to turn it over to the Chicago Police Department Superintendent, Superintendent Larry Snelly.

20:40Good morning. First, I'd like to thank our partners at the Secret Service for hosting this.

20:49I also want to thank Mayor Johnson, Governor Pritzker, all of our public safety,

20:57law enforcement partners who are here with us today. I'd also like to thank because we

21:04we can't leave out two key components that we partner with on a daily basis as the Chicago

21:12Police Department. First of all, Director Annette Lance-Holt of the Fire Department.

21:20The partnership has been great. Commissioner, I'm sorry. And I'll pay for that later.

21:27I'll do some push-ups. And also, Director Tirado of OEMC. The partnership has just been great, but

21:37the partnership with OEMC and the Fire Department has been excellent throughout the years.

21:45There are a lot of things that we as the Chicago Police Department could not do without them,

21:49so I'd like to thank them. I also have to thank my team here. I can't say enough about the

21:55incredible work that they're doing. Chief Dwayne DeVries, Deputy Chief Chris Papayuano, say that

22:03three times fast, and Deputy Chief Jill Stevens. They've just done such a great job of working

22:10with our federal partners. So I just want to start out by saying this. Our partnership

22:15with the Secret Service is strong. Ever since we started this process a year ago,

22:20we have had a great partnership, great communication, great collaboration. Without

22:25that communication and collaboration, we could not be where we are right now in the planning for the

22:30DNC. The partnership between Chicago Police Department, Secret Service, as well as federal,

22:37state, municipal agencies has been outstanding because what we're looking for is a safe

22:44and successful DNC, and we'll continue the partnership throughout and for many years to come.

22:53For more than a year, we've been working together to make this a successful event.

23:00It has to be safe in order for it to be successful.

23:08We started training over a year ago. When we look at our partners and the information that we gather

23:16from our partners, the intelligence that we gather from our partners, the intelligence that

23:22we discover ourselves, we plan around those things. We're flexible, we're fluid,

23:27and as things change, we're able to adapt, assess those situations, and make necessary

23:34changes if those changes are necessary. I don't want anybody to believe that

23:39we think that we have to make changes. We do not at this point, but we are prepared

23:48to move with the flow of intelligence that we gather. We also look at best practices.

23:55So as we assess, as we move forward, we will continue to do what is absolutely necessary

24:03to keep the city safe. So our training, our training since this started,

24:12Commander Ralph Cruz, I cannot say enough about him. He's headed up the training. He was also my

24:17partner during the NATO event. We headed up the training for that event. We also had the first

24:25responding teams in the field when we went out. So I have all the confidence in the world that

24:31there's experience here in dealing with these types of events. Also, my team that you see here

24:37to my right, they were also a part of the NATO event. So that experience is ongoing. We've taken

24:43some of that experience, the experiences and the best practices there. We've looked at areas where

24:50we could improve and we've improved upon those things. All of our training is rooted in the

24:56First and Fourth Amendments. It is important that our officers understand the First Amendment

25:05and the protection of First Amendment activity. The Chicago Police Department

25:13will not only, not only allow everyone who comes here

25:20to express their First Amendment rights, but we will also protect their rights while they're

25:25doing it. We will protect them. It is important to understand that our job is to uphold the

25:29Constitution and that is exactly what we're going to do. What we will not tolerate is vandalism

25:37to our city. What we will not tolerate is violent activity. If we see that, we will put an end to it

25:45quickly. Our officers have been dealing with protests since last year. Over 80 events that

25:54have occurred throughout this city and I'm proud to say that our officers have responded

26:01very well. We have not seen any major, major incidents when our officers are engaging with

26:07those who are out protesting. We're in constant communication with our protest groups. We will

26:15continue to communicate with those groups because it's absolutely necessary for us to have an

26:21understanding of what it is that they expect from us and what we expect from them. So we've laid out

26:27clear plans on those expectations. So I want to be clear that this is not just about the Democratic

26:39National Convention. The Chicago Police Department has an obligation to the entire city of Chicago.

26:46Every single neighborhood we will be protecting and we're looking at our manpower. We're looking

26:53at our allocations and we want to make sure and we will make sure that the neighborhoods

26:59who need us the most, we will be there for those neighborhoods. We will be there for the entire

27:05city of Chicago. So I don't want anyone to walk away from here believing that this safety plan

27:12is just about the DNC. It's about our city because we can't have a successful Democratic

27:19National Convention if we're not protecting the entire city as a whole and we will continue to do

27:25that. Lastly, I'd like to thank everyone who's been a part of the planning for the Democratic

27:37National Convention. I want to thank in advance our citizens of Chicago who at times, especially

27:48through a lot of these events, had to deal with traffic, rerouting their days, finding alternative

27:58ways to get to and from to work and their patience around all of these events and we imagine that

28:07that's going to happen again during the DNC. That patience is what helps us keep the city safe.

28:16We're going to do every single thing that we can to make sure that this Democratic National

28:21Convention is safe and successful. We actually went out and visited the RNC just to see what

28:31was going on there to see if there's something that we could take away to bring back here.

28:37We will be getting out information as it comes in and if anything changes that we know

28:42the public needs to hear, we will make sure that we communicate those things out.

28:47So thank you to everyone who's been a part of this planning and we appreciate your cooperation

28:53in all of it. With that, I'm going to turn it over to the Secret Service DNC Coordinator Jeff Burnside.

29:07Thank you Superintendent Snelling. My name is Jeff Burnside and I'm the Secret Service Coordinator

29:15for the 2024 Democratic National Convention, which has been designated as a national special

29:21security event. For more than a year, the U.S. Secret Service, along with our team here in Chicago,

29:29has been working with the Chicago Police Department and our other local, federal,

29:35and state partners to develop a security plan that will provide a safe and secure environment

29:42for not only those attending the convention, but the residents and guests of the City of Chicago.

29:49The purpose of today's briefing is to provide an overview of the security measures that will

29:54be in place here in Chicago during the convention. I'll begin with an overview of expected street

30:01impacts and then move into a brief review of the security impact maps.

30:07Both the maps and a detailed list of street impacts will be released following this press

30:12conference and available to the public on the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and

30:17Communications website, chicago.gov backslash oemc. For the street impacts, there will be

30:26temporary street closures that will begin near the United Center at approximately 7 p.m. on

30:33August 17th and remain in place throughout the duration of the convention and into the early

30:40morning hours of August 23rd. Temporary street closures will begin around the McCormick Place

30:47on August 16th at approximately 10 p.m. and again remain in place until the conclusion of events

30:55there. Prior to the security restrictions being in place, the public may notice security barriers

31:03and fencing being installed in these areas. Lane disruptions and some limited sidewalk impacts

31:11may occur during this time and we ask the citizens for their their patience and their grace while we

31:19work to ensure their safety. The public should also expect parking restrictions within these

31:25areas that that will be posted in advance and again a complete list of the street closures

31:32and parking restrictions will be available online at chicago.gov backslash oemc.

31:40I'll now move to a quick review of the security impact maps

31:44and as a reminder these maps will also be available online on the oemc website.

31:53So referencing the maps, the areas that you see shaded in yellow are vehicle screening areas.

32:00So within these areas pedestrians are allowed to freely move about just as they would in any

32:07normal day. These areas are not bound by fences but rather just a series of street closures.

32:15However, vehicles entering this area will be subject to screening.

32:21They must enter the area through a vehicle checkpoint where they will briefly be screened

32:26by law enforcement. Bicycles are permitted in the vehicle screening area and are not

32:36required to go through a screening checkpoint. Near McCormick Place, ride shares, taxis,

32:44hot food delivery will be available in the vehicle screening perimeter. Those vehicles will

32:52need to go through one of our checkpoints indicated on the map and so there may be some delays.

32:59We'll now move to the red shaded areas on the map which is our pedestrian restricted area or

33:05what we also refer to as the inner perimeter. At the united center, access to the pedestrian

33:11restricted perimeter is restricted to those with that are credentialed individuals and have a need

33:17to be there such as convention attendees, staff, workers, volunteers, and public safety.

33:25Individuals will need to enter through a pedestrian checkpoint

33:31and be screened in order to enter the pedestrian restricted perimeter.

33:44Personal vehicles will not be allowed to enter the pedestrian restricted

33:49perimeter. Bicycles, scooters, golf carts will also be restricted in this area and not permitted.

33:58Residents of the Henry Horner homes will be able to access their homes and their entry

34:03instructions will be communicated directly to them during our canvassing efforts as well as

34:10through efforts by the Chicago Housing Authority. People will be able to access businesses within

34:17the outer perimeter or vehicle restricted area. All businesses within the pedestrian restricted

34:24area have been reserved for exclusive use by convention attendees and volunteers.

34:31Ride shares, taxis, and hot food deliveries will not be permitted within the pedestrian

34:38restricted area.

34:42Chicago Transit Authority buses will operate normally and during their normal hours of

34:48service. However, routes within the vehicle exclusion zone will be impacted by the security

34:55restrictions that are in place. Riders are asked to expect delays and budget a little extra time

35:01for travel. We've been working very closely with CTA and they will publish information

35:07and get it out to the public on alternate bus stops and that type of information.

35:15Deliveries, trash service, mail, the all-important Amazon deliveries,

35:23they will continue as normal. Those vehicles will be screened prior to entering the vehicle

35:31screening area and so there might be some shifting of normal delivery times. And again,

35:39we ask for businesses and residents' patience as we work through that process. All deliveries

35:46that are entering the secret service perimeter must go through our commercial vehicle screening

35:51location and that location has been communicated to the businesses and delivery companies that

35:57would be impacted. The commercial vehicle screening location will be open when our

36:03perimeters go into place and it will remain open throughout the duration of the national

36:09special security event. Some delays could result as a result of these increased security measures.

36:19While security for an event of this size and scope will have an impact on city residents,

36:26the goal of the secret service and our partners is to provide the most secure environment

36:31while minimizing the daily disruptions to the city. In the event of an emergency,

36:38the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications app will be used to notify those

36:46will be used to notify those in the area of a critical situation.

36:52We will continue to update the public on any potential changes to the security measures

36:57and residents are encouraged to follow the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication

37:02on social media and visit the city's website again at chicago.gov backslash oemc.

37:10There they will find all of the information that they they need on the full impacts of our

37:15security measures. In closing, I'd just like to thank all of our partners in the city of Chicago,

37:24the state of Illinois, all of our federal partners. This has truly been a collaborative effort. As the

37:32superintendent said, we've been working in close, close coordination for for well over a year.

37:40And it has truly been the honor of my career to have this assignment and to work with our

37:45tremendous partners here in the city of Chicago. Now I'd like to introduce the acting special

37:51agent in charge of the FBI's Chicago field office, Lucas Rothar.

38:04Good afternoon, everybody. Lucas Rothar, the acting special agent in charge of the Chicago

38:11division of the FBI. Upon the designation of a national special security event, the FBI is tasked

38:17with being the lead coordinator for intelligence relating to that event. For over the past year,

38:23the men and women of the FBI, along with our partners in law enforcement have worked diligently

38:27to evaluate and assess all information and intelligence related to this event. And we've

38:33taken appropriate actions and we shared that information with our law enforcement partners

38:37at the local, state and federal levels. At this time, there are no known articulable threats to

38:44the DNC. However, as FBI Director Christopher Wray just mentioned yesterday in his testimony to

38:50Congress, we are living in an elevated threat environment. We do acknowledge the vast threats

38:57that we face as a nation, running from violent crime to international terrorism, domestic terrorism

39:06and hate crimes, along with a host of other threats. The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment

39:13to meeting these challenges to protect the American public while upholding the Constitution.

39:19We pride ourselves on our ability to pivot to address new threats to safeguard this nation

39:25and our communities. That has not and it will not change. We're always adapting, we're always

39:33learning and we're always adjusting our approach as we receive new information. And we will continue

39:39to do that throughout the DNC. The FBI is committed to devoting all resources as needed to

39:46combat any threats should they arise. Our special agents, intelligence analysts and professional

39:53staff are prepared for this mission. We have a host of teams from across the country throughout

39:58the entire FBI that will assist us with these tasks. These personnel range from our hostage

40:04rescues team, our SWAT teams, our lab division, victim assistance, language specialists, along

40:11with a host of other people to help us accomplish these missions. However, one of the FBI's greatest

40:17strengths is our multi-agency approach to sharing of information. I'd like to take this

40:24opportunity to thank all of our local, state and federal partners, many of you who are here today

40:29with us. We endeavor in this work through these partnerships on an everyday basis. Some are

40:36through formalized relationships, such as our Joint Terrorism Task Force and our Violent Crime Task

40:41Force. Others are through less formalized. However, the result is the same. These partnerships are the

40:49key in the sharing of that intelligence in order to disrupt bad actors before they strike.

40:55And we're going to continue to rely on this process throughout the DNC and onwards and

41:01afterwards to ensure the protection of our communities.

41:06However, in order to do this most effectively, we do ask for a partnership with the public.

41:13We need that information from the public to help us do our jobs in the most effective,

41:18efficient manner possible. We often use the term of, if you see something, say something.

41:24I'd like to break that down for you. That is the key to our partnership. The public is a key

41:29partnership in disrupting all the threats that we endeavor to fight within the FBI and all of law

41:34enforcement. Every year the FBI fields tens of thousands of tips from the public. Those tips

41:42can often make what makes a difference in preventing a crisis. All tips received are reviewed,

41:48evaluated and prioritized for additional action.

41:52Again, these tips from the public help us to identify threats before they become a crisis.

41:59So what should people report to us? There is no such thing as something too insignificant to

42:03report. I would encourage everybody, if you see something suspicious, if something you feel is

42:09threatening, whether it's an online threat or comment or it's whether you see something in

42:13person, please report it to law enforcement. If it's an emergency, an immediate threat to life,

42:20you should call 9-1-1. For any other reports that you'd like to make, any appropriate law

42:25enforcement agency, take that tip and we will share it amongst ourselves. If you'd like to

42:31submit a tip to the FBI, the public can call 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips can be submitted online

42:39at tips.fbi.gov.

42:47Again, I thank the public for their cooperation in helping us endeavor to make this a safe

42:53event for all of our communities going forward and again for well into the future.

42:58And again, I want to stress the extreme appreciation that the FBI has for the Secret

43:02Service, the Chicago Police Department and all of our local law enforcement and state

43:07law enforcement and federal law enforcement partners. With that, I will turn it over to

43:11the Executive Director of the OAMC, Mr. Jose Tirado.

43:25Good afternoon. My name is Jose Tirado and I am the Executive Director of the Office of Emergency

43:30Management and Communications for the City of Chicago. OAMC is coordinating public safety

43:35efforts for the DNC and around the United Center, McCormick Place and throughout the rest of the

43:40city. Our number one priority is public safety. Throughout the past year, OAMC has been coordinating

43:46security and safety planning with the Secret Service, the Chicago Police Department,

43:50the Chicago Fire Department, city agencies, as well as other partners and convention organizers

43:56to ensure the safety of all residents, visitors and convention attendees. We have plans in place

44:02to handle the additional crowds and increased traffic citywide. The largest impacts will be felt

44:09around the United Center, McCormick Place, specifically due to street closures, parking

44:15restrictions and added security measures. Businesses and homes will be accessible within

44:21those perimeters. Before heading out, please remember to plan ahead, allow extra travel time,

44:29consider alternate routes and use public transportation if possible. OAMC, alongside

44:36other city departments and federal agencies, will continue to canvas the impacted areas

44:41to engage with residents and businesses to answer any of their questions. This includes

44:46the areas around the United Center, McCormick Place, the Central Business District, the West Loop

44:52and the South Loop. OAMC's website is chicago.gov slash oamc. It contains information related to

45:03public safety, street closures, traffic reroutes, parking restrictions, emergency notifications

45:09and much more. Throughout the convention, OAMC will be pushing out important notifications.

45:15In addition to notify Chicago and Chi-Biz alerts, we have developed a dedicated text alert for the

45:20convention for DNC 2024. In order to opt in, you can text DNC to the following number 226-787-226-787

45:34and I'll say that again. In order to opt in for the DNC 2024 text alert, type in DNC to the following

45:42number 226-787. The best way to receive all information is to download the Chicago OAMC app.

45:50As you've already heard from everyone who's been working with us, I could tell everyone right now

45:57I would download that app immediately. Additionally, to enhance our monitoring of citywide events,

46:02OAMC will also be activating the City Emergency Operations Center staffed by local, state and

46:07federal partners. While we make every effort on behalf of the City to keep residents and visitors

46:13safe, we remind everyone that they also have a role to play in our community. We encourage

46:19the public to please report any suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1. Simply said, if you

46:25see something, say something and I'll say that again. If you see something, say something. Do not

46:30hesitate to call 9-1-1. We look forward to ensuring a safe convention for all and for the City. Thank

46:36you very much. I will hand it now back to Derek from Secret Service.

46:47We will now open the floor up for questions. Just a reminder,

46:52just please leave with your name and outlet and then we're going to we're going to try to

46:57just do one question and get follow-ups later because there's so many. AP?

47:01Thank you. Tom Kearney, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Transportation.

47:23One of the functions of our department is to issue permits for use of the public right-of-way.

47:29So the City of Chicago and all the partners here today are fully committed to allowing

47:37individuals and groups to exercise their First Amendment rights safely. As you referenced,

47:44there is litigation in the court so I can't get into specifics about certain assemblies or protest

47:51marches but I can confirm that we are working in a format through the court to allow demonstrators

47:58to protest within sight and sound of the United Center and as we get those details

48:03finalized through the court we will come back and share those publicly.

48:10Craig up front.

48:12Craig Wall, C7 Chicago. Maybe this goes to Chief Schnelling or maybe the Secret Service.

48:18We sent representatives up to the RMC to observe up there. What was learned from up there and how

48:25will that be applied here at the RMC? Any changes?

48:32Well what I can tell you is that we saw a lot of great things and we saw some things that maybe we

48:38can apply here. However, the planning that we've been doing here has been great. So right now are

48:46we looking at any major changes? No. But like I said again, as we go along we assess situations,

48:52we want to make sure that everything is safe and if at any point or any time we think we need to

48:57make some changes for the safety of the city, we will do so. So the partnership again has been

49:02great. We saw some great things when we were out there and we see some great things here and

49:07three words. We're ready. We are ready.

49:13Second row.

49:16Sorry.

49:22Superintendent Schnelling also.

49:26So during the RMC there was a shooting in Milwaukee outside of the perimeter that was

49:34done by officers from another state helping with the convention.

49:37Are you adjusting how you communicate to officers who are coming from out of state here to help with

49:43the RMC right now? No. There were no adjustments that need to be made at this time. Basically

49:49we have outside agencies who are going to come in. Most of them are right here from Illinois and then

49:54we have some from Milwaukee who are coming in. They will be assigned to areas where we need help

50:01with infrastructure. They will not be in the neighborhoods. They will not be in areas where

50:06we know there's a possibility that they would have to take some type of police action. Now

50:11that doesn't mean that they won't have to where they are but this will free up our officers,

50:17our Chicago police officers, to be in more volatile areas because this is our city and

50:23our officers are bound by particular rules, regulations, and laws. At the same time,

50:30all of those officers who are coming in to the city of Chicago, they will be getting 8 to 12

50:35hours of training on some of our policies, training, and the expectations of our city.

50:41So we have a really good plan in place for that to make sure that they're secure and that our

50:49officers are responding to those more volatile situations in the city.

50:57First row here.

51:12Around the DNC.

51:19So I'm a visual learner so I'm going to reference the maps as we kind of talk through this. So

51:26in the yellow areas, that is not bound by any type of fencing. That will be a series of street

51:32closures that will be well marked for motorists so that they will see those. The red areas will

51:41be bound by fencing and pedestrians will be able to see that. It will be clearly marked. It will

51:50be clearly visible. There will be no confusion about what is a restricted area and what is not

51:56a restricted area.

52:01Second right, Julie.

52:11Well here's what I can tell you because it's unpredictable who will arrive here.

52:15We're willing to meet with any protest group to have that conversation, to talk about expectations,

52:23to explain what it is that we expect of them.

52:28Because I think that clear communication gives us an idea.

52:52So I'm going to go ahead and turn it over to you.

53:05You've discussed the desire to minimize impact to both businesses and residents both on the

53:12inner perimeter and in the yellow zone and the outreach that has already been done. Can you be

53:17more specific about what kind of communications have already been had with maybe businesses or

53:24resident groups in the area and what more you expect to be doing between now and the beginning

53:29of the convention? So one of the subcommittees that we set up very early on in this process

53:39is our community impact private sector subcommittee and they've been working very

53:43diligently since last August on outreach efforts and there's several prongs and phases to that.

53:53But they've held a multitude of outreach events. We've reached over a thousand organizations

54:04throughout this process. In April, the Secret Service partnered with our

54:10friends at OEMC, the FBI, the Chicago Police Department, and a multitude of other Chicago

54:16agencies and actually went door-to-door canvassing in the areas. Actually a much larger area than

54:24what you see depicted on these maps. Letting people know that things were coming, that

54:31where they could go to get information, deriving them to the OEMC website so that

54:38that they understand that that is a trusted source of information and updates. We have attended

54:45community meetings where we've answered questions about impacts to bus routes and public transportation

54:53and some of those meetings that we held early on, quite frankly, we have to go back

54:58to those groups because we just didn't have the information that they that they needed

55:02at that time. And so we're in a full court press from now until the end of the convention and this

55:09doesn't stop on on the 19th. We will, this is a continuing effort through the end of the convention

55:15because we owe the residents and the citizens of the city of Chicago that to make sure that

55:21their questions are answered, that they have the access to the city services that they need,

55:27that to prepare them for what type of disruptions

55:31or delays that they might expect so that they could adjust their schedules accordingly.

55:43So just to touch on the question, right, Jeff did an amazing job, but the reason I'm

55:51going to introduce Ivan Capifali is because he's also boots on the ground to get into specifics on

55:57how OMC, Secret Service, CPD, Community Engagement for the Mayor's Office has been pushing out this

56:05message since April, May, since April and March. I'm going to bring him up, this is Ivan Capitale,

56:11first deputy for the ACP. Good afternoon everyone, good afternoon and thank you for being here.

56:19My name is Ivan Capitale and I'm the acting commissioner for the Chicago Department

56:23of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, also known as BACP. BACP in-person canvassing

56:30efforts included businesses and residents within the newly announced perimeter and those near the

56:35venues. Additionally, BACP set up a phone bank and has been actively reaching out to businesses that

56:41were missed during the in-person canvassing. Since April, BACP has reached out to almost 900 businesses

56:47around the United Center and nearly 500 businesses near McCormick Place. I want to confirm that BACP

56:54will be part of the canvassing efforts that are occurring tomorrow. Additionally, BACP has shared

57:01DNC information through emails and our social media pages, engaged with delegate agencies,

57:07elected officials, industry partners and more. We created a frequently asked questions toolkit in

57:13collaboration with the Office of Emergency Management and distributed widely. Lastly,

57:19BACP has been urging businesses to enroll in Chibis Alerts, which provides vital text

57:25and email notifications tailored for the business community. Our outreach efforts in April, we've been

57:44working with the Office of Emergency Management and the Office of Emergency Management

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Secret Service Briefs Press About Security Preparations For The 2024 Democratic National Convention

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